Canadian Navigable Waters Act

Marginal note:Minister’s powers

• 16 (1) The Minister may order the person in charge of an obstruction or potential obstruction in a navigable water — other than a minor water — that is listed in the schedule to secure, remove or destroy it in the manner that the Minister considers appropriate if the situation has persisted for more than 24 hours.

• Marginal note:Property belonging to Her Majesty

  (2) The Minister may order any person to secure, remove or destroy a wreck, vessel, part of a vessel or any thing that is cast ashore, stranded or left on any property belonging to Her Majesty in right of Canada and impedes, for more than 24 hours, the use of that property as may be required for the public purposes of Canada.

• Marginal note:Failure to comply with order

  (3) If the person to whom an order is given under subsection (1) or (2) fails to comply with the order, the Minister may cause the order to be carried out.

• Marginal note:Not a statutory instrument

  (4) For greater certainty, an order given under this section is not a statutory instrument as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Statutory Instruments Act.